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Get scammed by signing up for a timeshare contract. Then get scammed by “timeshare exit” companies. Then conned again by drug cartels. These time share compani

by xyst 2y ago

Get scammed by signing up for a timeshare contract. Then get scammed by “timeshare exit” companies. Then conned again by drug cartels. These time share companies need to get bent. These platforms perpetuate the worst types of scams on our most vulnerable populations (elderly). I went to one of these timeshare pitches because they were giving away free stays at an associated hotel — got a “free” 4 day/night accommodation. The catch here was I had to attend a 1-2 hour sales pitch for their “club” (timeshare). Read the fine print before accepting the 4 day/night accommodation to make sure I did not have to accept a timeshare contract. Only obligation was the sales pitch and stay for the entire pitch. Scheduled the pitch for later in the week of the vacation. Set a timer on my watch/phone as soon as I checked in for 1.5 hrs. Listened passively to their pitch. I feigned interest but ultimately declined each contract and each attempt to pull my credit report (do not give these people your SSN). Each decline was met with: - “I can go back to my manager and get a better deal. I’m making no profit”. Person comes back with a contract that throws in a bunch of “perks” (more “points” or something like that). - high pressure sales tactics like: “this deal expires today”. “I’m basically giving this away for free”. - Lies such as: “vacation anywhere you want in the world and any time”. But clearly contract and terms state otherwise and need to purchase additional “points” at certain locations. Doesn’t include holidays. - more lies such as “after it’s paid off, you ‘own’ the time share”. Again, it’s bullshit. the “monthly maintenance fees” are in perpetuity (forever) and go up at any time at the discretion of club. You don’t “own” jack shit. The contract is worthless. There were several other people as well in doing the sales pitch and made sure to call out the absurdities and lies so everyone could hear. As soon as my watch/phone timer alerted. Got up, shake hands with sales person and manager, and I just left. I fulfilled my obligation.

backspace_ 2y ago
But, did you successfully receive that 4 day/night accommodation?
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
duxup 2y ago
A family member took over another family member's time share after they passed. Their options and just getting anything scheduled was becoming harder and harder to the point that you couldn't schedule anything. They took your money and pretty much no dates were available.... It just so happened that this family member frequently traveled for work and were in some credit card + hotel points program that also was managed by the corporation that ran the time share. They went and checked what they could redeem their points for and ... it was the exact locations they used to be able to book via the timeshare. The company had taken the timeshare owners money, now that they had it, they gave the benefits to their points / credit card customers. In a semi related story I worked once with a timeshare company who wanted to "get into the digital age". I never worked with a more ignorant customer. Their standard operating procedure was to get their vendors on a conference call and tell them to "figure it out".
- jandrese 2y ago
  How is that not just ordinary fraud? That may be the best case scenario for getting out of the timeshare agreement, bring it up before the court and getting a judgement against the timeshare company.
  - duxup 2y ago
    Pretty much, but that's what timeshares kinda are...
  - bsder 2y ago
    > That may be the best case scenario for getting out of the timeshare agreement, bring it up before the court and getting a judgement against the timeshare company. Suing someone requires money for lawyers. You can be out a significant chunk of a megabuck before you can land a solid judgement against someone. And I guarantee these scammers are experts at navigating the system. It they won't let you out normally, you need to stop paying, let them foreclose and take the credit hit. You have to expect it to hit your credit, but often it doesn't because the timeshare companies don't want to attract the attention. Once you have signalled that you are willing to take the hit and you are not going to feed them any more money, most of them would rather not spend money foreclosing and would rather just move on to the next sucker.

by xyst 2y ago

backspace_ 2y ago

But, did you successfully receive that 4 day/night accommodation?

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

duxup 2y ago

A family member took over another family member's time share after they passed. Their options and just getting anything scheduled was becoming harder and harder to the point that you couldn't schedule anything. They took your money and pretty much no dates were available.... It just so happened that this family member frequently traveled for work and were in some credit card + hotel points program that also was managed by the corporation that ran the time share. They went and checked what they could redeem their points for and ... it was the exact locations they used to be able to book via the timeshare. The company had taken the timeshare owners money, now that they had it, they gave the benefits to their points / credit card customers. In a semi related story I worked once with a timeshare company who wanted to "get into the digital age". I never worked with a more ignorant customer. Their standard operating procedure was to get their vendors on a conference call and tell them to "figure it out".

jandrese 2y ago
How is that not just ordinary fraud? That may be the best case scenario for getting out of the timeshare agreement, bring it up before the court and getting a judgement against the timeshare company.
- duxup 2y ago
  Pretty much, but that's what timeshares kinda are...
- bsder 2y ago
  > That may be the best case scenario for getting out of the timeshare agreement, bring it up before the court and getting a judgement against the timeshare company. Suing someone requires money for lawyers. You can be out a significant chunk of a megabuck before you can land a solid judgement against someone. And I guarantee these scammers are experts at navigating the system. It they won't let you out normally, you need to stop paying, let them foreclose and take the credit hit. You have to expect it to hit your credit, but often it doesn't because the timeshare companies don't want to attract the attention. Once you have signalled that you are willing to take the hit and you are not going to feed them any more money, most of them would rather not spend money foreclosing and would rather just move on to the next sucker.